Mr Greatrex, who lives a few doors from the crime scene, told the Press Association that as he helped the mother she said a man had “stabbed my little girl”.

He added: “She was in shock and she couldn’t say anything else.”

On Sunday the home was being searched by forensics experts in the cordoned-off, one-storey dwelling, which is believed to belong to the local authority.

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It was one of a row of terraced bungalows in the street.

Floral tribute at the scene (Matthew Cooper/PA)

Mr Greatrex said a man had lived there for the past six months after the previous occupier, a woman, had died.

But he said he did not know the current occupant.

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He added: “It was a bit of a shock. You can’t imagine it happening on our doorstep, especially when it’s a little girl.”

A police forensics officer works outside the property in Brownhills (Matthew Cooper/PA)

Bob Weir, who lives two doors away from the bungalow where the stabbing happened, said he had initially thought the incident was drug-related.

Mr Weir, 72, added that a middle-aged man lived at the now sealed-off property, apparently on his own.

The pensioner told reporters: “I didn’t hear until this morning what it was and I was absolutely shocked – I didn’t know the bloke who lived there and he hadn’t lived there long, maybe six months, if that.

“There were police cars both sides of the road, ambulances … all sorts. I thought it was something to do with drugs.

“I didn’t know there were any kids in there. I thought he just lived on his own. I never saw a girl or a woman there.”

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I only knew the guy to say hello to and I think he was married and was living there on his own.

“I didn’t hear anything before the police got here.

“It’s really sad. This is not the sort of area where you hear of anybody being stabbed.”